Tuesday, 1 April 2014

PIA News Dispatch - Monday, March 31, 2014

President Benigno S. Aquino III said he expects
the new graduates of Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA)
"Mandilaab" 2014 will serve the people with justice, integrity and
dedication when they go outside the academy.

In his message during the graduation rites in
Camp Castaneda in Silang, Cavite, the President said he hopes the new police,
jail, and fire officials will shun corruption and will serve their
"bosses" with utmost dedication.

The chief executive also mentioned the ongoing
reforms being in carried out in the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of
Jail Management and Penology and the Bureau of Fire Protection. Policemen can
now serve the public with ease after the government purchased 74,879 Glock 17
pistols. Most of the firearms have been distributed to the PNP personnel and
additional pistols will also be distributed once ballistic tests are completed,
the President said.

With the release of the new pistols to
policemen, the PNP will soon achieved the 1:1 police-to-pistol ratio. PNPA
Class Mandilaab will also be issued with new Glock pistols, the President said.
The government has so far allotted more than P2 billion for PNP's mobility,
firearms, investigation, communication, and rehabilitation components under its
Operational Transformation Plan.

The procurement of 882 units of patrol jeeps,
17,680 units of assault rifle, and more than 200,000 magazines for basic
assault rifle and around 5,000 units of mobile radio is also ongoing, the
President said.

The government will also soon approve the
domestic manufacturing of small arms ammunition to address the needs of the
AFP, PNP, and other law enforcement agencies, the President reported.

Jail personnel will also be issued with 4,888
units of 9mm pistols to address the 41 percent deficit on firearms among jail
guards.

The Bureau of Fire Protection will also get new
equipment, the President noted. Last year, the government purchased 76
Rosenbauer fire trucks with high quality engines and improved water pump
discharge capacity.

The government also allocated P3.6 billion to
buy 300 fire trucks and build 300 fire stations nationwide, he added. These
reforms became possible through clean and efficient management of the present
government, the chief executive said.

President
Benigno S. Aquino III will meet Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam who
will be on a four-day state visit to the country this week, Malacañang
announced on Monday.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda in a
statement said the two heads of state would discuss matters of mutual interest
to the Philippines and Singapore, including trade and investment, as well as
the Filipino community in the Lion City.

Like the other heads of state that visited the
country recently, President Tan’s itinerary would include a side trip to the
areas devastated by super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ on top of his other activities.

Lacierda said President Tan would hand over
donations contributed by the people of Singapore to the partners of the
Singapore Red Cross involved in rehabilitation projects in Yolanda-affected
communities.

“He will also fly to Basey, Western Samar to
present medical supplies to the Basey District Hospital, a joint rehabilitation
project of the Singapore Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red
Cross,” he added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in an
earlier announcement said this would be President Tan’s first state visit to
the Philippines reciprocating President Aquino’s state visit to Singapore in
March 2011.

President Tan will be accompanied by his wife,
Mrs. Mary Tan, and a delegation composed of Minister Grace Fu, Senior
Parliamentary Secretary Hawazi Daipi, and Members of the Parliament Dr. Lam Pin
Min and Mr. Vikram Nair during his visit here. PND (hdc)

President Aquino says he has an obligation to
defend country's sovereignty

President Benigno S. Aquino III reiterated his
obligation to defend the country's sovereignty adding other countries should
recognize the Philippines's rights to defend its own interest in West
Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

In an interview during the graduation rites at
the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) in Silang, Cavite, the President
said his government is not challenging China or initiating a provocation.

But he said he believes that China should
recognize the country's right to defend its sovereignty. He also said the
country is pursuing a requirement on a peaceful and rules-based approach in
resolving the dispute in the West Philippine Sea when it elevated its case to
the international tribunal.

"We went through arbitration primarily
because that is a means to resolve the dispute na consistent with the policy na
peaceful, at saka in conformity with the international law," he told
reporters.

Another track being pursued by the country is
the crafting of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (West Philippine
Sea).

So far, ASEAN member countries only agreed in
the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in 2002, and
the Philippines wants to push a Code of Conduct after ten years. The
Philippines has no other choice but international arbitration, he said, arguing
that the Ayungin Shoal currently being contested by China is clearly within the
country's 200 exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The President also commended the members of the
Armed forces who have been manning a government position in the Ayungin Shoal
through a dilapidated ship.

"I should pay special tribute to the men of
the AFP. We have men who had to be provisioned in Ayungin Shoal. They
accomplished the mission without, I believe, increasing the tension and did it
in a way that didn't pose a threat to any other country--again consistent with
the peaceful approach," he said.

Changing personnel and bringing supplies are
becoming a challenge for the Philippines as China has started to block supply
ships from reaching government's position.

On Sunday, the Philippines filed a memorial or a
written pleading in the international tribunal containing evidence and basis
for its claims in the West Philippine Sea. PND (as)